EQUAL PAY ACT-WAGE HISTORY

Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Prohibits an employer from: (i) screening job applicants based on their wage or salary history, (ii) requiring that an applicant's prior wages satisfy minimum or maximum criteria, and (iii) requesting or requiring as a condition of being interviewed or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment that an applicant disclose prior wages or salary. Prohibits an employer from seeking the salary, including benefits or other compensation or salary history, of a job applicant from any current or former employer, with some exceptions. Limits defenses. Provides for penalties and injunctive relief. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that the exceptions to the equal pay requirement based on sex also apply to the equal pay requirement for African-American employees. Provides that an employer may prohibit a human resources employee, supervisor, or other employee whose job responsibilities require or allow access to other employees' wage or salary information from disclosing that information without prior written consent from the employee whose information is sought or requested. Provides that specified provisions shall not be construed to prevent an employer or employment agency from: providing information about the wages, benefits, compensation, or salary offered in relation to a position; or engaging in discussions with an applicant for employment about the applicant's expectations with respect to wage or salary, benefits, and other compensation. Provides that an employer is not in violation of specified provisions when a job applicant voluntarily and without prompting discloses his or her current or prior wage or salary history, including benefits or other compensation, on the condition that the employer does not consider or rely on the voluntary disclosures as a factor in determining whether to offer a job applicant employment, in making an offer of compensation, or in determining future wages, salary, benefits, or other compensation. Makes other changes. Effective 60 days after becoming law. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that a wage differential factor that is not based on sex or a factor that would constitute unlawful discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act must account for the differential (instead of "the entire differential").